Former for bending angle-beams.



. Patented May 22, 1900i A LP. mmm.A Y Formen Fon summe ANGLE BEAms.

w: cams versus ca., vnarourn'amnsmnafon, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DWARD P. LYNCH, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR-TO THE AULTMAN COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO.

FORMER FOR BENDING ANGLE-BEAMSI.

sPncIFIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent N. 650,049, dated MayV 2a, 1900. Application filed .T anuary 2l, 18.98. Serial No. 667,515. (No model.)

useful Improvements in Formers for Bending.

Y Angle-Beams; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan view of a suiticient portion of a machine to illustrate the manner of applying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the shaper in place ou a beam, on a larger scale, prior to being placed in the machine. Fig. Sis a similar view of the beam and shaper when removed from the machine. Figrt is a section through Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the bending mechanism.

In the drawings I have shown, more or less conventionally, parts which can be used forv the bending of such metal as I desire to properly shape.

A indicates the device which may be regarded as the die or male member of the mechanism, and B the matrix or female member, of which the movable part can be advanced toward and from the other by any suitable mechanism-as, for instance, threaded shafts and gearing, as at C D, or by a system ofknee-levers, toggle-joints, or `the like. There are now well-known numerous forms of mechanism for this purpose-namely, the bending of heavy bars or beams-and the present invention is applicable to each of them. A serious difficulty has been 4experi` enced in using any of the mechanisms with which I am acquainted for this bending of bars or beams which are angular in sectionthat is, which have webs or plates together withintegral lateral flan ges-and particularly when the bending has been of such character that the 'flanges are on curves of different radii. For instance,when bending an I-beam in the plane of the web portion the resist-ance to the condensation of those flanges which are on the inner curve and the resistance to the elongation of those flanges which are on the outer curve are such that it has been pracy tically impossible to obtain a uniform shaping of the web and flanges, and there always results a crimping or distorting of the web or flanges, or both, and often to such an extentas to seriously weaken and fracture the metal. For the overcoming of this I provide an attachment for the bending-machine, or a supplemental device which is adapted to serve as a shaping abutment for practically all of the points' of the web and the flange where they are curving and prevent buckling or distorting of any of the part-s.

E E indicate peculiarly-formed blocks of steel or other suitable material. Their length is equal to the distance between the Ilanges of the beam to be bent. The inner and the outer faces e e' are preferably fiat and parallel. Their side faces e2 e2 taper from the center longitudinally to the ends, the angle of convergence varying in accordance with the radius of the desired curve to be formed in the beam. At their centers e4 the blocks abut against each other, but are adaptedto rock each upon those adjacent. These are arranged in a series as long asis necessary to accommodate the arc of the curve. Theyare bound loosely together by a flexible connecting device F, which can be of any suitable material, asa wire or metallic strip or awire cable. At present I prefer the latter because of its flexibility in all directions and ofits not being liable to be injured by the application of heat. This connecting device F is supplemented by one at G, which may be similar in character to that at F. It operates to hold the former-blocks in proper relation to each other and to prevent any one being displaced or twisted at the ends under the pressure from the ilanges at the time the bendingoccurs.

The connecting device F may be arranged along the central transverse line of the blocks or abutments; but for some reasons I prefer to have it slightly eccentric, as shown in the drawings, it` being passed through an aperture in the abutment-block a little below the which might be experienced if any part of it should lie above the central axial line.

The method of using this device will be readily understood. Prior to subjecting the beam to the action of the bending-machine one of the formers or shapers (a series `of the anvil -blocks of suitable length joined together) is placed between the anges to vbe bent, as shown in the drawings.A In the case of an I-beam two formers are employed, one

on4 each side of the web. Then when the movable part of the machine, as the die A,

exerts -its force the Hanges 7i h are supported, Q

spaced, and held apart at their normal distancefV After the bendingcommences the inner ends of the blocks E of the former move toward each other slightly, while-the; 'outerfones lslightly separate, the connectingi devices holding them as a series together at the centers.

low the beam, which serve to prevent vertical displacement of the formers under the powerfulV pressure that is exerted' by ithe die or` plunger. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated the guide a is a part of the b ase or bed, which is shown as formed integral with the die A.

" By devices of this'sort I have succeeded in obviating entirely the buckling, crimping,

. 'and distorting that have been incident to the bending of large and heavy anglebeams and so distribute the strain that the finished article isifound to be practically uniform at all points alon g its length, and the crowdingin- Ward or displacingof any of the metal is over- By having Vthe inner faces and the outer faces'of each block flat it can be held prop# erly'agai'nst the web and against the retaining oiholdingplate a and be prevented from being forced upward and the distortion of the beam-web'can be obviated. In the caseof an I-beam when two former-s are used, each consisting of a series of the'blocks or abut# ments,'they operate to hold the web in'its plane-while bending, as well as to apply the bendingstrain properly to the flanges. Of course it isnot necessary to have the inner and outer faces continuously flat from end to y end, I meaning above by fiat that thereA y should be two or more contact or'bearing points against the web and two or more against' the :retaining or holding plate, so that theblocks or abutments of the former shall be held true. The tapering or inclined end faces of the` block cannot be wedged' outward, be-

lauseotbeingnh'eld in 'place by the retaining or holding guides ct at.'

What I claimisl. A former consisting of a series ofblocks constructed to have the two opposing operative'faces of each pai-r of contiguous blocks convergingfrom'the inner curve of flexion to fa fixed f'ulcrumdine of bearing ,of one of said blocks on the other, and a iiexible connecting device for said series located between the said curve of flexion and the line ot the series of fulcra'or bearings, substantially as set forth.

2. A former for bending metal angle-bars, consisting of a series of' counterpart blocks each having a xed line of fulcrum bearing upon the next and formed at the end toward the inner curve of flexion with two side faces which diverge from said inner curve continuously'to the fulcrum-l-ines of said block, and a connecting device for joining all the blocks of the series, substantially as set forth.

3. A former for bending metal angle-bars, consisting of a series of counterpart blocks each having a iixed line of fulcrum bearing y y I upon the next Vand formed at the end toward 'The machine has guides da above and be-'r the inner curve of exion with two side faces 'l whichdverge from said inner curve continuously to the fulcruin-lines of said block, and having at the end extending toward the outer curve of flexion two side faces which converge from the lines of said fulcra toward the outer curve, and a connecting device for joining all of the blocks of the series, substantially as 'seta forth.

4. A flexible former consisting of a series of counterpart blocks each formed with a fulcrum or bearing angle on a straight line across the face of the block, and a plurality of flexible connections for said blocks passing through the latter on different lines, whereby 'said' bearings are heldin line witheach other to 'form a continuous series of opposing fulcra, substantially as set forth.

Y 5. An apparatus for thebending Sof metal angle bars or beams having shapers for the convex and concave sides of the beam, guiding and retaining means respectively above and below the beam, and a former between the flanges of the beam consisting of a series of blocks or abutments adapted tov bear longitudinally against the flanges of the beam and laterally against one of the retaining or Y holding devices, and a iexible connecting device joining together the blocks or abutments of the series, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

A EDWARD P. LYNCH. Vitnesses:

Taos. G. PEAGHEY,

C. IjI. McCLnRv.

IIO 

